Wound treatment management using augmented reality overlay

ABSTRACT

At least a method is disclosed for visualizing sensor data from a sensor monitoring a wound. The method can include: receiving senor data generated by one or more sensors monitoring a wound of a patient, the wound being covered with a wound dressing; generating a graphical representation from the sensor data; and presenting the graphical representation to a user via augmented reality so that the graphical representation is overlaid on an area proximate to the patient from a viewing perspective of the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.K. Provisional Application Nos.2005788.1 and 2005783.2 filed on Apr. 21, 2020; the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to apparatuses, systems, and methodsfor the treatment of wounds, for example using dressings in combinationwith negative pressure wound therapy.

BACKGROUND

Topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy, sometimes referred to as vacuumassisted closure, negative pressure wound therapy, or reduced pressurewound therapy, is widely recognized as a beneficial mechanism forimproving the healing rate of a wound. Such therapy is applicable to abroad range of wounds such as incisional wounds, open wounds, andabdominal wounds or the like. TNP therapy assists in the closure andhealing of wounds by reducing tissue edema, encouraging blood flow,stimulating the formation of granulation tissue, removing excessexudates and may reduce bacterial load. Thus, reducing infection to thewound.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a method is disclosed for visualizing sensor data froma sensor monitoring a wound. The method can include: receiving senordata generated by one or more sensors monitoring a wound of a patient,the wound being covered with a wound dressing; generating a graphicalrepresentation from the sensor data; and presenting the graphicalrepresentation to a user via augmented reality so that the graphicalrepresentation is overlaid on an area proximate to the patient from aviewing perspective of the user.

The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of thefollowing features: The method can include determining a location of amarking on or proximate to the wound dressing, and the presenting caninclude presenting the graphical representation so that the graphicalrepresentation is positioned at a set distance from the location fromthe viewing perspective of the user. The presenting can includepresenting the graphical representation so that the graphicalrepresentation is positioned above the wound dressing from the viewingperspective of the user. The presenting can include presenting thegraphical representation so that the graphical representation ispositioned above the wound dressing from the viewing perspective of theuser even as the user moves around the patient. The graphicalrepresentation can include a color-coding of values of the sensor data.The graphical representation can include a plurality of layers includinga first layer representing first variations at the wound detected with afirst type of sensor and a second layer representing second variationsat the wound detected with a second type of sensor different from thefirst type of sensor, and the presenting can include presenting thegraphical representation so that the first layer and the second layerare separately displayed and overlaid on the area from the viewingperspective of the user. The first layer can be positioned above thesecond layer from the viewing perspective of the user. The firstvariations can include temperature variations, and the second variationscan include conductivity variations. The graphical representation caninclude a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and thefirst side can represent first sensor data detected on one side of thewound dressing and the second side can represent second sensor datadetected on another side of the wound dressing opposite the one side ofthe wound dressing. The presenting can include presenting the graphicalrepresentation so that, from the viewing perspective of the user, thefirst side is positioned above the one side of the wound dressing andthe second side is positioned above the another side of the wounddressing. The receiving can be performed in real-time with thepresenting. The presenting can include presenting the graphicalrepresentation on a head-mounted display. The method can includegenerating the sensor data by the one or more sensors, and thegenerating the sensor data can be performed in real-time with thepresenting. The one or more sensors can be integrated in the wounddressing. The method can include: presenting a media interface elementto the user; and adjusting the graphical representation responsive to aselection of the media interface element by the user. The method caninclude operating a negative pressure source fluidically connected tothe wound dressing to provide negative pressure and deliver a negativepressure wound therapy to the wound.

In some aspects, an apparatus is disclosed for visualizing sensor datafrom a sensor monitoring a wound. The apparatus can include an input anda controller. The input can receive senor data generated by one or moresensors configured to monitor a wound of a patient. The wound can becovered with a wound dressing. The controller can: generate a graphicalrepresentation from the sensor data, and output the graphicalrepresentation for presentation to a user via augmented reality so thatthe graphical representation is overlaid on an area proximate to thepatient from a viewing perspective of the user.

The apparatus of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of thefollowing features: The controller can determine a location of a markingon or proximate to the wound dressing, and the controller can output thegraphical representation for presentation so that the graphicalrepresentation is positioned on a display at a set distance from thelocation from the viewing perspective of the user. The controller canoutput the graphical representation for presentation so that thegraphical representation is positioned on a display above the wounddressing from the viewing perspective of the user. The controller canoutput the graphical representation for presentation so that thegraphical representation is positioned on a display above the wounddressing from the viewing perspective of the user even as the user movesaround the patient. The graphical representation can include acolor-coding of values of the sensor data. The graphical representationcan include a plurality of layers including a first layer representingfirst variations at the wound detected with a first type of sensor and asecond layer representing second variations at the wound detected with asecond type of sensor different from the first type of sensor. Thepresenting can include presenting the graphical representation so thatthe first layer and the second layer are separately displayed andoverlaid on the area from the viewing perspective of the user. The firstlayer can be positioned above the second layer from the viewingperspective of the user. The first variations can include temperaturevariations, and the second variations can include conductivityvariations. The graphical representation can include a first side and asecond side opposite the first side, and the first side can representfirst sensor data detected on one side of the wound dressing and thesecond side can represent second sensor data detected on another side ofthe wound dressing opposite the one side of the wound dressing. Thecontroller can output the graphical representation for presentation sothat, from the viewing perspective of the user, and the first side canbe positioned above the one side of the wound dressing and the secondside can be positioned above the another side of the wound dressing. Theinput can receive the sensor data in real-time with the controlleroutputting the graphical representation for presentation. The apparatuscan include a head-mounted display configured to present the graphicalrepresentation. The one or more sensors can generate the sensor data inreal-time with the controller outputting the graphical representationfor presentation. The one or more sensors can be integrated in the wounddressing. The controller can: output a media interface element forpresentation to the user; and adjust the graphical representationresponsive to a selection of the media interface element by the user.The apparatus can include a negative pressure source configured to befluidically connected to the wound dressing to provide negative pressureand deliver a negative pressure wound therapy to the wound.

In some aspects, a method is disclosed for assisting with placement of awound dressing for treatment of a wound. The method can include:determining a relative position of a wound dressing; generating amovement instruction from the relative position, the movementinstruction being usable to guide a manual placement by a user of thewound dressing on a wound of a patient; and presenting the movementinstruction to the user via augmented reality so that the movementinstruction is overlaid on an area proximate to the patient from aviewing perspective of the user.

The method of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of thefollowing features: The method can include determining a location of amarking on or proximate to the wound, and the presenting can includepresenting the movement instruction so that the movement instruction ispositioned at a set distance from the location from the viewingperspective of the user. The presenting can include presenting themovement instruction so that the movement instruction is positionedabove the wound from the viewing perspective of the user. The presentingcan include presenting the movement instruction so that the movementinstruction is positioned above the wound from the viewing perspectiveof the user even as the user moves around the patient. The movementinstruction can include an indication of a direction in which to movethe wound dressing. The movement instruction can include an indicationof a direction in which to move the wound dressing and a distance inwhich to move the wound dressing. The movement instruction can includean indication to shift and rotate the wound dressing. The determiningcan include determining the relative position of the wound dressing withrespect to the wound or a position on the patient at which another wounddressing was previously placed. The presenting can include presentingthe movement instruction on a head-mounted display. The method caninclude: determining that the wound dressing is positioned on thepatient at a first location rather than a second location; generatingsensor data by one or more sensors monitoring the wound; and adjustingthe sensor data to compensate for the wound dressing being positioned onthe patient at the first location rather than the second location. Themethod can include operating a negative pressure source fluidicallyconnected to the wound dressing to provide negative pressure and todeliver a negative pressure wound therapy to the wound.

In some aspects, an apparatus is disclosed for assisting with placementof a wound dressing for treatment of a wound. The apparatus can includea controller and a memory device. The controller can: determine arelative position of a wound dressing, generate a movement instructionfrom the relative position, the movement instruction being usable toguide a manual placement by a user of the wound dressing on a wound of apatient, and output the movement instruction for presentation to theuser via augmented reality so that the movement instruction is overlaidon an area proximate to the patient from a viewing perspective of theuser. The memory device can store the movement instruction.

The apparatus of the preceding paragraph can include one or more of thefollowing features: The controller can determine a location of a markingon or proximate to the wound, and the controller can output the movementinstruction for presentation so that the movement instruction ispositioned at a set distance on a display from the location from theviewing perspective of the user. The controller can output the movementinstruction for presentation so that the movement instruction ispositioned on a display above the wound from the viewing perspective ofthe user. The controller can output the movement instruction forpresentation so that the movement instruction is positioned on a displayabove the wound from the viewing perspective of the user even as theuser moves around the patient. The movement instruction can include anindication of a direction in which to move the wound dressing. Themovement instruction can include an indication of a direction in whichto move the wound dressing and a distance in which to move the wounddressing. The movement instruction can include an indication to shiftand rotate the wound dressing. The controller can determine the relativeposition of the wound dressing with respect to the wound or a positionon the patient at which another wound dressing was previously placed.The apparatus can include a head-mounted display configured to presentthe movement instruction. The controller can: determine that the wounddressing is positioned on the patient at a first location rather than asecond location; and adjust sensor data generated by one or more sensorsmonitoring the wound to compensate for the wound dressing beingpositioned on the patient at the first location rather than the secondlocation. The apparatus can include a negative pressure sourceconfigured to be fluidically connected to the wound dressing to providenegative pressure and deliver a negative pressure wound therapy to thewound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described hereinafter,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wound therapy system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wound dressing, a dressing monitor device, and adisplay device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a placement guidance process.

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate the placement of a wound dressing along with thepresentation of guidance instructions to assist with the placement.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical representation generation andpresentation process.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate the presentation of a graphical representation ofsensor data.

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

Consistency of care can be important when treating a wound that isdifficult to heal. For example, the consistency of dressing changeintervals for treating a wound may influence how quickly the woundheals.

The ability of a healthcare provider to triage a wound may traditionallybe limited to a visual inspection of the wound and its neighboring areabetween dressing changes. However, features disclosed herein candesirably, in certain implementations, enable to the healthcare providerto visualize and understand characteristics of the wound and itsneighboring area through a visual inspection of the wound dressing orits neighboring area and without removing a wound dressing covering thewound. This can allow the healthcare provider to assess the woundthrough an accustomed visual review of an area around the woundregardless of whether the wound dressing may be covering the wound.

Information about the wound can, in accordance with features disclosedherein, be presented at a point of care (POC) as a graphicalrepresentation of data detected from or determined about the wound orits neighboring area. The data can be detected or determined from one ormore sensors (for instance, one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes,magnetometers, impedance or conductivity sensors, perfusion sensors,thermistors, pH sensors, pressure sensors, or optical sensors, amongother types of sensors) integrated in a wound dressing or positionedproximate to the wound or the wound dressing. The graphicalrepresentation can be depicted as presented or anchored proximate to thewound so that the data may be shown to the healthcare provider in thecontext of the wound area, which can help leverage the experience of thehealthcare provider with assessing the wound by viewing an area near thewound.

The graphical representation can by shown in the form of an augmentedreality (AR) overlay on or around the wound dressing, which can bepresented by a head-mounted display (HMD), mobile device, amorphological projection technique, or another type of display. Thegraphical representation may be a heatmap that uses a color-coding ofdata to visually represent different values of the data. The heatmap caninclude a number of heatmap levels where each heatmap level mayrepresent a different set of data (for instance, temperature,conductivity, pH, or the like) detected around or determined about thewound or its neighboring area. A relative position or an opacity of theheatmap levels, among other characteristics, can be adjusted by thehealthcare provider to facilitate a comparison of different sets ofdata.

The graphical representation can present the information in real-time orsubstantially real-time with its detection from or determination aboutthe wound or its neighboring area, and thus the graphical representationcan be used to permit the healthcare provider to understand a currentenvironment at the wound. Alternatively, the graphical representationcan present the information under control of user-adjustable mediainterface elements (such as, a play/pause button, a rewind button, afast forward button, or the like), which can be used to navigate throughenvironments at the wound over time and assist in understanding theinformation in both a positional context and a temporal context.

The position of the graphical representation can be aligned or fixedwith respect to one or more characteristics of or around the wound (forinstance, one or more skin spots, one or more periwound features, ashape of the wound, a shape of the wound dressing, a position of thewound dressing, or one or more markings on the wound dressing) from theperspective of the healthcare provider. The one or more characteristicsof or around the wound can thus serve as one or more fiducial markers(sometimes referred to as placement markers) to facilitate an accuratepositioning of the graphical representation, as well as permit anautomatic adjustment to the positioning responsive to changes in aposition, a speed, or a distance between two or more of a number offiducial markers so that the graphical representation may appearanchored from a viewing perspective of the healthcare provider. Becausea resolution of the graphical representation may exceed the granularityof the data detected from or determined about the wound, values of thedata detected from or determined about the wound may be calculated (forinstance, interpolated) to enhance the resolution of the graphicalrepresentation or smooth out transitions in the graphicalrepresentation.

Features disclosed herein can desirably, in certain implementations,assist the healthcare provider in correctly manually placing the wounddressing or one or more other components in a care environment, as wellas to quantify a discrepancy of an incorrect placement of the wounddressing or one or more other components. The wound dressing or the oneor more other components can include one or more sensors or one or morefiducial markers, which can be used in combination with an electronicdevice and potentially one or more other sensors to monitor a positionof the wound dressing or the one or more other components. The positionof the wound dressing or the one or more other components with therespect to the wound can be used to generate instructions to the user toguide correct movement of the wound dressing or the one or more othercomponents. This can facilitate consistent placement of the wounddressing or the one or more other components to allow for consistentdata generation by the wound dressing or the one or more othercomponents or for data generation by inconsistent placement to bepost-processed to maintain longitudinal or latitudinal consistency.

Wound Dressing Placement and Wound Monitoring

Some aspects disclosed herein relate to apparatuses and methods formonitoring or treating biological tissue with sensor-enabled substrates.The sensor-enabled technologies disclosed herein are broadly applicableto any type of therapy that may benefit from sensor-enabled substratesand may be utilized for data collection that can be relied upon byhealthcare providers to make both diagnostic and patient managementdecisions.

The data collected by a sensor-enabled substrate can, before or afterfurther processing by a processor, be presented by an augmented reality(AR) display. The information presented by the AR display may beoverlaid on an area proximate to the sensor-enabled substrate from aviewing perspective of a healthcare provider so that the information canbe understood by the healthcare provider in the context of where theinformation is sensed or relates.

The AR display can be used to guide manual placement by the healthcareprovider of one or more components of a therapy or monitoring system,such as the sensor-enabled substrate. The AR display may, for example,indicate to the healthcare provider to move or reorient thesensor-enabled substrate to ensure a desired placement, such asconsistent placement of the sensor-enabled substrate relative to aprevious placement of another sensor-enabled substrate over a wound.

Sensors can be mounted on or embedded within substrates configured to beused in the treatment of both intact and damaged human or animal tissue.Such sensors may collect information about the surrounding tissue andtransmit such information to a computing device or a caregiver to beutilized in further treatment. The sensors may be attached to the skinanywhere on the body, including areas for monitoring arthritis,temperature, or other areas that may be prone to problems and requiremonitoring.

The sensor features disclosed herein may be incorporated into treatmentsfor wounds or in a variety of other applications, such as monitoring andtreatment of intact skin, cardiovascular applications such as monitoringblood flow, orthopedic applications such as monitoring limb movement andbone repair, neurophysiological applications such as monitoringelectrical impulses, and any other tissue, organ, system, or conditionthat may benefit from improved sensor-enabled monitoring.

Throughout this specification reference is made to a wound. The termwound is to be broadly construed and encompasses open and closed woundsin which skin is torn, cut or punctured or where trauma causes acontusion, or any other superficial or other conditions or imperfectionson the skin of a patient or otherwise that benefit from pressuretreatment. A wound is thus broadly defined as any damaged region oftissue where fluid may or may not be produced. Examples of such woundsinclude, but are not limited to, abdominal wounds or other large orincisional wounds, either as a result of surgery, trauma, sterniotomies,fasciotomies, or other conditions, dehisced wounds, acute wounds,chronic wounds, subacute and dehisced wounds, traumatic wounds, flapsand skin grafts, lacerations, abrasions, contusions, bums, diabeticulcers, pressure ulcers, stoma, surgical wounds, trauma and venousulcers or the like.

Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed herein can be used withtopical negative pressure (“TNP”) or reduced pressure therapy systems.Briefly, negative pressure wound therapy assists in the closure andhealing of many forms of “hard to heal” wounds by reducing tissueoedema, encouraging blood flow and granular tissue formation, orremoving excess exudate and can reduce bacterial load (and thusinfection risk) and provide other benefits.

As used herein, reduced or negative pressure levels, such as -X mmHg,represent pressure levels relative to normal ambient atmosphericpressure, which can correspond to 760 mmHg (or 1 atm, 29.93 inHg,101.325 kPa, 14.696 psi, etc.). Accordingly, a negative pressure valueof -X mmHg reflects pressure that is X mmHg below 760 mmHg or, in otherwords, a pressure of (760-X) mmHg. In addition, negative pressure thatis “less” or “smaller” than X mmHg corresponds to pressure that iscloser to atmospheric pressure (for example, -40 mmHg is less than -60mmHg). Negative pressure that is “more” or “greater” than -X mmHgcorresponds to pressure that is further from atmospheric pressure (forexample, -80 mmHg is more than -60 mmHg). In some cases, local ambientatmospheric pressure is used as a reference point, and such localatmospheric pressure may not necessarily be, for example, 760 mmHg.

Systems and methods disclosed herein can be used with other types oftreatment in addition to or instead of reduced pressure therapy, such asirrigation, ultrasound, heat or cold, neuro stimulation, or the like. Insome cases, disclosed systems and methods can be used for woundmonitoring without application of additional therapy. Systems andmethods disclosed herein can be used in conjunction with a dressing,including with compression dressing, reduced pressure dressing, or thelike.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wound therapy system 100 (sometimes referred to asa reduced pressure wound therapy system, a negative pressure woundtherapy system, a TNP system, or a wound treatment system) comprising awound filler 130 placed inside a wound cavity 110, the wound cavity 110sealed by a wound cover 120. The wound filler 130 in combination withthe wound cover 120 may be referred to as a wound dressing. A conduit140 (such as a single or multi lumen tube) can be connected the woundcover 120 with a wound therapy device 150 (sometimes as a whole orpartially referred to as a pump assembly) configured to supply reducedor negative pressure. The wound cover 120 can be in fluidiccommunication with the wound cavity 110. The wound therapy device 150can be canisterless (meaning that exudate is collected in the wounddressing or is transferred via the conduit 140 for collection to anotherlocation) or include or support a canister.

The wound therapy device 150 can be mounted to or supported by the wounddressing, or adjacent to the wound dressing. The wound filler 130 can beany suitable type, such as hydrophilic or hydrophobic foam, gauze,inflatable bag, and so on. The wound filler 130 can be conformable tothe wound cavity 110 such that it substantially fills the wound cavity110. The wound cover 120 can provide a substantially fluid impermeableseal over the wound cavity 110. In some cases, the wound cover 120 has atop side and a bottom side, and the bottom side adhesively (or in anyother suitable manner) seals with the wound cavity 110. The conduit 140or any other conduit disclosed herein can be formed from polyurethane,PVC, nylon, polyethylene, silicone, or any other suitable material.

The wound cover 120 can have a port (not shown) configured to receive anend of the conduit 140. In some cases, the conduit 140 can otherwisepass through or under the wound cover 120 to supply reduced pressure tothe wound cavity 110 so as to maintain a desired level of reducedpressure in the wound cavity 110. The conduit 140 can be any suitablearticle configured to provide at least a substantially sealed fluid flowpathway or path between the wound therapy device 150 and the wound cover120, so as to supply the reduced pressure provided by the wound therapydevice 150 to wound cavity 110.

The wound cover 120 and the wound filler 130 can be provided as a singlearticle or an integrated single unit. In some cases, no wound filler isprovided and the wound cover 120 by itself may be referred to as thewound dressing. The wound dressing may then be connected, via theconduit 140, to a source of negative pressure of the wound therapydevice 150. In some cases, though not required, the wound therapy device150 can be miniaturized and portable, although larger conventional pumpssuch can also be used.

The wound cover 120 can be located over a wound site to be treated. Thewound cover 120 can form a substantially sealed cavity or enclosure overthe wound site. The wound cover 120 can have a film having a high watervapour permeability to enable the evaporation of surplus fluid, and canhave a superabsorbing material contained therein to safely absorb woundexudate. In some cases, the components of the TNP systems describedherein can be particularly suited for incisional wounds that exude asmall amount of wound exudate.

The wound therapy device 150 can include a pressure source, such as asource of negative pressure. The wound therapy device 150 can delivernegative pressure of approximately -80 mmHg, or between about -20 mmHgand -200 mmHg. Note that these pressures are relative to normal ambientatmospheric pressure thus, -200 mmHg would be about 560 mmHg inpractical terms. In some cases, the pressure range can be between about-40 mmHg and -150 mmHg. Alternatively, a pressure range of up to -75mmHg, up to -80 mmHg or over -80 mmHg can be used. Also in some cases apressure range of below -75 mmHg can be used. Alternatively, a pressurerange of over approximately -100 mmHg, or even -150 mmHg, can besupplied by the wound therapy device 150. The wound therapy device 150can provide continuous or intermittent negative pressure therapy.

In operation, the wound filler 130 can be inserted into the wound cavity110, and wound cover 120 can be placed so as to seal the wound cavity110. The wound therapy device 150 can provide negative pressure to thewound cover 120, which may be transmitted to the wound cavity 110 viathe wound filler 130. Fluid (such as, wound exudate) can be drawnthrough the conduit 140 and stored in a canister. In some cases, fluidis absorbed by the wound filler 130 or one or more absorbent layers (notshown).

The wound dressing can incorporate a number of electronic components,including one or more sensors or controllers, which can be utilized inorder to monitor characteristics of or around the wound cavity 110. Theelectronic components can transmit, such as wirelessly or via a wiredconnection, sensor data or processed data to one or more electronicdevices, such as to facilitate processing of the sensor data orprocessed data or visual presentation of information responsive to thesensor data or processed data. Collecting and analyzing data from thewound cavity 110 can provide useful insights towards determining whethera wound is on a healing trajectory, selecting proper therapy,determining whether the wound has healed, or the like.

A number of sensor technologies can be used in or alongside the wounddressing. For example, one or more sensors can be incorporated onto orinto a substrate (such substrate can be referred to as asensor-integrated substrate). The one or more sensors can be provided asan individual material layer that is placed directly or indirectly overor in the wound cavity 110. The substrate can be part of a larger wounddressing apparatus, such as part of a single unit dressing. Additionallyor alternatively, the substrate can be placed directly or indirectlyover or in the wound cavity 110 and then covered by a secondary wounddressing, which can include one or more of gauze, foam or other woundpacking material, a superabsorbent layer, a drape, a fully integrateddressing like the Pico or Allevyn Life dressing manufactured by Smith &Nephew, or the like.

The substrate can be placed in contact with the wound cavity 110 andallow fluid to pass through the substrate while causing little to nodamage to the tissue in the wound cavity 110. The substrate can beflexible, elastic, extensible, or stretchable or substantially flexible,elastic, extensible, or stretchable in order to conform to or cover thewound cavity 110.

The substrate can support multiple electronic components and multipleelectronic connections interconnecting at least some of the multipleelectronic components. The multiple electronic components can be orinclude one or more sensors, amplifiers, capacitors, resistors,inductors, controllers, or the like. The electronic connections canelectrically connect one or more of the electronic components. Theelectronic connections can be can be tracks printed on the substrate,such as using copper, conductive ink (such as silver ink, graphite ink,etc.), or the like. At least some of the electronic connections can beflexible or stretchable or substantially flexible or stretchable.

The multiple electronic components can be controlled by a controlmodule, which may include a controller and a memory device. The controlmodule can receive and process one or more measurements obtained by theone or more sensors. The control module can include one or morecontrollers or microprocessors, memory, or the like. The control modulecan be positioned on, supported by, or proximate to the wound dressingor away from the wound dressing.

The wound dressing or wound dressing components described herein can bepart of a kit that also includes the wound therapy device 150. One ormore components of the kit, such as the substrate, secondary dressing,or the wound therapy device 150 can be sterile.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wound monitoring system 200 including a wounddressing 210, a monitor device 220, and a display device 230 incommunication with one another. The wound monitoring system 200 canfacilitate collection of sensor data from or around a wound covered bythe wound dressing 210. The sensor data can, in turn, be passed to themonitor device 220 or the display device 230 for processing, such as forgeneration of a graphical representation for presentation to ahealthcare provider. Although the monitor device 220 and the displaydevice 230 are shown as separate in FIG. 2 , the monitor device 220 andthe display device 230 can instead be one combined device, supported bya common housing, or share one or more components such that the monitordevice 220 or the display device 230 may have a particular component(for instance, a user interface or a sensor) which the other does not.

The wound dressing 210 can be an implementation of the wound dressing ofFIG. 1 . The wound dressing 210 can include one or more dressing sensors212 configured to generate sensor data responsive to detected conditionsat or near the wound. The one or more dressing sensors 212 can includeimpedance or conductivity sensors (impedance or conductance measurementscan, for instance, be used to identify living and dead tissue, ormonitor progress of healing), temperature sensors (temperaturemeasurements can, for instance, be used to provide information about thewound environment or ambient air), optical sensors which may includelight sources or light detectors (spectral features of tissue can, forinstance, be used to understand tissue health or healing trajectory), pHsensors, pressure sensors, perfusion sensors, accelerometers,gyroscopes, magnetometers, or the like. The wound dressing 210 caninclude one or more electronic components 214 that can facilitateoperation of the one or more dressing sensors 212 (such as throughcontrol or provision of power) or communication, such as via radio wavesor one or more electrical wires, of the sensor data or dressing data(such as a dressing type or an assigned dressing identifier for uniquelyidentifying the wound dressing 210 from multiple different wounddressings) to the monitor device 220 or the display device 230.

The wound dressing 210 or one or more other components of the woundmonitoring system 200 can include or be used with any of the featuresdescribed in International Patent Application Publication No.WO2017195038, titled “SENSOR ENABLED WOUND MONITORING AND THERAPYAPPARATUS,” International Patent Publication No. WO2018189265, titled“COMPONENT STRESS RELIEF FOR SENSOR ENABLED NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUNDTHERAPY DRESSINGS,” International Patent Publication No. WO2019020551,titled “SKEWING PADS FOR IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT,” and InternationalPatent Publication No. WO2019063488, titled “SENSOR POSITIONING ANDOPTICAL SENSING FOR SENSOR ENABLED WOUND THERAPY DRESSINGS AND SYSTEMS,”the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

Although not illustrated, the wound dressing 210 can include a pressuresource, such as a source of negative pressure, so that the wounddressing 210 may itself generate negative pressure to provide pressuretherapy like the wound therapy device 150 of FIG. 1 . An exampleimplementation of a wound dressing with a pressure source is describedin International Patent Application Publication No. WO2019193141, titled“NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND TREATMENT APPARATUSES AND METHODS WITHINTEGRATED ELECTRONICS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The monitor device 220 can include a monitor controller 221, a monitormemory device 222, a monitor user interface 223, a monitor power source224, one or more monitor sensors 225, and a monitor communicationinterface 226 that may be configured to communicate, such aselectrically, with one another. The monitor power source 224 can providepower to one or more components of the monitor device 220 and, forinstance, be connected to mains power or include a battery. One or moreof the components of the monitor device 220 can be contained in orsupported by a monitor device housing. The monitor device 220 can be ahospital patient monitor that may, for example, communicate with one ormore other devices in a care environment or via a computer network.Although not illustrated, the monitor device 220 can include a pressuresource, such as a source of negative pressure, so that the monitordevice 220 may function as a therapy device like the wound therapydevice 150 of FIG. 1 .

The monitor controller 221 can control operations of one or more othercomponents of the monitor device 220 (for instance, the monitor memorydevice 222, the monitor user interface 223, the monitor power source224, the one or more monitor sensors 225, or the monitor communicationinterface 226) according at least to instructions stored in the monitormemory device 222. The monitor controller 221 can collect the sensordata from the wound dressing 210 via the monitor communication interface226, process the collected sensor data, generate one or more graphicalrepresentations (which can include one or more heatmaps) from thecollected or processed sensor data, store the collected or processedsensor data or the one or more graphical representations to the monitormemory device 222, and transmit the collected or processed sensor dataor the one or more graphical representations via the monitorcommunication interface 226. The monitor controller 221 can collectsensor data from the wound dressing 210, the one or more monitor sensors225, or other sensors in the wound monitoring system 200 and determine arelative position of the wound dressing 210 from the collected sensordata. The monitor controller 221 may use the relative position togenerate one or more movement instructions for guiding a manualplacement the wound dressing 210 on the wound and transmit the one ormore movement instructions via the monitor communication interface 226.

The monitor user interface 223 can include one or more output elements,such as visual feedback devices (for example, light emitting diodes or adisplay screen), haptic feedback devices, or audio devices (for example,speakers), that provide user outputs to a user, such as a healthcareprovider. The one or more output elements can convey status informationto the user like whether the monitor device 220 is functioningsuccessfully, collecting the sensor data from the wound dressing 210, orcommunicating with the wound dressing 210 or the display device 230. Themonitor user interface 223 can include one or more input elements, suchas buttons, switches, dials, touch pads, microphones, or touch screens,for receiving user inputs for configuring the wound dressing 210, themonitor device 220, or the display device 230.

The one or more monitor sensors 225 can include one or moreaccelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, impedance sensors,thermistors, pressure sensors, or optical sensors, among other types ofsensors. The one or more monitor sensors 225 can be supported by themonitor device housing or may be remote from the monitor device 220housing yet usable to monitor characteristics of the monitor device 220or one or more components or individuals nearby the monitor device 220.

The one or more monitor sensors 225 can be used to detect and monitor aposition or motion of the wound dressing 210, the monitor device 220, orthe display device 230, as well as one or more nearby items orindividuals (such as a patient or a healthcare provider). The one ormore monitor sensors 225 can additionally or alternatively be used todetect and monitor other conditions at or near the monitor device 220.The conditions at or near the monitor device 220 may be indicative ofone or more conditions at or near a wound covered by the wound dressing210, such as of ambient conditions around the wound. The one or moremonitor sensors 225 can output sensor data usable, for example, todetermine how to guide movement of the wound dressing 210 for placementon the wound or how to position the one or more graphicalrepresentations for viewing by the user.

The monitor communication interface 226 can be used to communicate withother devices, such as via radio waves or wired communication. Thecommunication via radio waves can be performed according to acommunication protocol, such as a Bluetooth™ protocol. The monitorcommunication interface 226 can communicate with other devices andreceive and transmit device usage or sensor data (such as [i] the sensordata generated by the one or more dressing sensors 212 before or afterprocessing by the monitor controller 221, [ii] the sensor dataindicative of a position or movement of the wound dressing 210, themonitor device 220, or the display device 230, as well as one or morenearby items or individuals, [iii] the one or more movement instructionsfor moving the wound dressing 210 for placement, [iv] the one or moregraphical representations based at least on the sensor data generated bythe one or more dressing sensors 212 before or after processing by themonitor controller 221, [v] alarms, or [vi] changes to a monitoring ortherapy program performed by the monitor device 220, among otherpossibilities), as well as commands (such as an activation command toactivate the one or more dressing sensors 212 or a request command tocause the wound dressing 210 to provide sensor data). The monitorcommunication interface 226 may, in some aspects, be unable tocommunicate farther than 10 meters, 30 meters, or 100 meters with thewound dressing 210 or the display device 230.

The display device 230 can include a display controller 231, a displaymemory device 232, a display user interface 233, a display power source234, one or more display sensors 235, and a display communicationinterface 236 that may be configured to communicate, such aselectrically, with one another. The display power source 234 can providepower to one or more components of the display device 230 and, forinstance, be connected to mains power or include a battery. One or moreof the components of the display device 230 can be contained in orsupported by a display device housing. The display device housing can behead-mountable, so the display device 230 may be a head-mounted display(HMD). Alternatively, the display device housing may not behead-mountable, and the display device 230 can, for example, be a mobiledevice or a smart television or may operate to project an image, such asvia a morphological projection technique.

The display controller 231 can control operations of one or more othercomponents of the display device 230 (for instance, the display memorydevice 232, the display user interface 233, the display power source234, the one or more display sensors 235, or the display communicationinterface 236) according at least to instructions stored in the displaymemory device 232. The display controller 231 can receive, from themonitor device 220 via the display communication interface 236, the oneor more movement instructions to guide movement of the wound dressing210 and output the one or more movement instructions to the display userinterface 233 for presentation to the user. The display controller 231can receive, from the monitor device 220 via the display communicationinterface 236, the one or more graphical representations, determine fromthe sensor data from the wound dressing 210 or the collected orprocessed sensor data from the monitor device 220 how to position theone or more graphical representations on the display user interface 233,and output the one or more graphical representations to the display userinterface 233 for presentation to the user. Additionally oralternatively, the display controller 231 can itself determine the oneor more movement instructions or the graphical representations from thesensor data from the wound dressing 210 or the collected or processedsensor data from the monitor device 220.

The display user interface 233 can include one or more output elements,such as visual feedback devices (for example, one or more displayscreens or light emitting diodes), haptic feedback devices, or audiodevices (for example, speakers), that provide user outputs to a user.The one or more output elements can convey the one or more movementinstructions to the user (such as visually and via augmented reality),as well as status information like whether the display device 230 isfunctioning successfully, collecting the sensor data from the wounddressing 210 or the collected or processed sensor data from the monitordevice 220, or communicating with the wound dressing 210 or the monitordevice 220. The display user interface 233 can include one or more inputelements, such as buttons, switches, dials, touch pads, microphones, ortouch screens, for receiving user inputs for configuring the displaydevice 230.

The one or more display sensors 235 can include one or moreaccelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, impedance sensors,thermistors, pressure sensors, or optical sensors, among other types ofsensors. The one or more display sensors 235 can be supported by thedisplay device housing or may be remote from the display device housingyet usable to monitor characteristics of the display device 230 or oneor more components or individuals nearby the display device 230.

The one or more display sensors 235 can be used to detect and monitor aposition or motion of the wound dressing 210, the monitor device 220, orthe display device 230, as well as one or more nearby items orindividuals (such as a patient or a healthcare provider). The one ormore display sensors 235 can additionally or alternatively be used todetect and monitor conditions at or near the display device 230. Theconditions at or near the display device 230 may be indicative of one ormore conditions at or near a wound covered by the wound dressing 210,such as of ambient conditions around the wound. The one or more displaysensors 235 can output sensor data usable, for example, to determine howto guide movement of the wound dressing 210 for placement on the woundor how to position the one or more graphical representations on thedisplay user interface 233.

The display communication interface 236 can be used to communicate withother devices, such as via radio waves or wired communication. Thecommunication via radio waves can be performed according to acommunication protocol, such as a Bluetooth™ protocol. The displaycommunication interface 236 can, for example, communicate with otherdevices and transmit device usage or sensor data (such as [i] the sensordata generated by the one or more dressing sensors 212 before or afterprocessing by the monitor controller 221 or the display controller 231,[ii] the sensor data indicative of a position or movement of the wounddressing 210, the monitor device 220, or the display device 230, as wellas one or more nearby items or individuals, [iii] the one or moremovement instructions for moving the wound dressing 210 for placement,[iv] the one or more graphical representations based at least on thesensor data generated by the one or more dressing sensors 212 before orafter processing by the monitor controller 221, [v] one or moreindications of how to position the one or more graphical representationson the display user interface 233, [vi] alarms, or [vii] changes to amonitoring or therapy program performed by the monitor device 220 or thedisplay device 230, among other possibilities, as well as commands (suchas an activation command to activate the one or more dressing sensors212 or a request command to cause the wound dressing 210 to providesensor data). The display communication interface 236 may, in someaspects, be unable to communicate farther than 10 meters, 30 meters, or100 meters with the wound dressing 210 or the monitor device 220.

FIG. 3 illustrates a positioning guidance process 300. For convenience,the positioning guidance process 300 is described as being performed bythe display device 230 and in the context of the wound monitoring system200, but may instead be implemented in other components or systemsdescribed herein, or by other components or systems not shown. Thepositioning guidance process 300 can advantageously, in certain aspects,assist a healthcare provider by providing dressing placement guidance inaugmented reality in the context of a wound area so that the healthcareprovider can be supported in accurately placing a wound dressing on awound. The dressing placement guidance can be easy to understand andfollow because the dressing placement guidance may be in the context ofthe wound area and may even be anchored proximate to the wound.

At block 310, the positioning guidance process 300 can determine arelative position of a wound dressing. For example, the displaycontroller 231 can determine a relative position of the wound dressing210 with respect to a wound or a position on a patient at which anotherwound dressing was previously placed. The relative position may be avector, which can identify an x-axis location, a y-axis location, and az-axis location for the wound dressing 210 and a magnitude denoting adistance and a direction from the wound dressing 210 to a location, suchas a point near the wound or the position on the patient at which theanother wound dressing was previously placed. The relative position canbe determined from the sensor data (such as data from an accelerometer,gyroscope, magnetometer, or optical sensor) generated by the one or moredressing sensors 212, the one or more monitor sensors 225, or the one ormore display sensors 235.

At block 320, the positioning guidance process 300 can determine whetherthe wound dressing is positioned correctly. For example, the displaycontroller 231 can determine whether the wound dressing 210 may becorrectly position by determining if the wound dressing 210 is desirablylocated and oriented on the patient so that the wound dressing 210 canbe used in treatment of the wound. The display controller 231 may havedetermined or stored a desired location and orientation of the wounddressing 210 on the patient and permitted tolerances for the desiredlocation and orientation. The wound dressing 210 may be correctly placedwhen the display controller 231 determines that the wound dressing 210is situated on the patient within the permitted tolerances from thedesired location and orientation. The wound dressing 210 may beincorrectly placed when the display controller 231 determines that thewound dressing 210 is not situated on the patient within the permittedtolerances from the desired location and orientation.

If the positioning guidance process 300 determines that the wounddressing is positioned incorrectly, the positioning guidance process 300can transition to block 330 and can generate a movement instruction fromthe relative position. For example, the display controller 231 can usethe relative position to generate a movement instruction that is usableto guide a manual placement by a user, such as a healthcare provider, ofthe wound dressing 210 on the wound. The movement instruction canindicate a direction in which to move the wound dressing or a distancein which to move the wound dressing. For instance, the movementinstruction can indicate to shift or rotate the wound dressing by aspecified amount or degree.

At block 340, the positioning guidance process 300 can present themovement instruction to the user via augmented reality. For example, thedisplay user interface 233 can present the movement instruction inaugmented reality on a display, such as a head-mounted display, a screenof a mobile device, or via a morphological projection technique, so thatthe movement instruction may be overlaid on an area proximate to thepatient from a viewing perspective of the user. The movement instructioncan be presented with the movement instruction positioned above thewound (or at another location on or above the patient) and appearing tobe anchored above the wound (or at the another location) from theviewing perspective so that the location of the movement instructionappears to be fixed with respect to the patient as the user moves aroundthe patient. The display controller 231 may, in some implementations,determine a marking location of a marking on or proximate to the woundor the patient (for instance, one or more skin spots, one or moreperiwound features, a shape of the wound, a shape of the wound dressing,a position of the wound dressing, or one or more markings on the wounddressing), and the display user interface 233 can present the movementinstruction at or at a set distance from the marking location from theviewing perspective.

Subsequent to block 340, the positioning guidance process 300 can returnto block 310 and determine a relative position of the wound dressing.The relative position may now be different because the user may havemanually moved the wound dressing 210.

If at block 320 the positioning guidance process 300 now determines thatthe wound dressing is positioned correctly, the positioning guidanceprocess 300 can transition to block 350 and generate a placementconfirmation. For example, the display controller 231 can generate aplacement confirmation, which can indicate that the wound dressing 210may be correctly placed and oriented on the patient.

At block 360, the positioning guidance process 300 can present themovement instruction to the user. For example, the display userinterface 233 can present the placement confirmation to the user inaugmented reality on the display so that the placement instruction maybe overlaid on an area proximate to the patient from a viewingperspective of the user. The placement instruction can be presented withthe placement instruction positioned above the wound (or at anotherlocation on or above the patient) and appearing to be anchored above thewound (or at the another location) from the viewing perspective so thatthe location of the placement instruction appears to be fixed withrespect to the patient as the user moves around the patient.

The positioning guidance process 300 can, in certain implementations,further include adjusting of sensor data gathered by the wound dressing.For example, the monitor controller 221 or the display controller 231can determine that the wound dressing 210 may have been placed at adifferent location relative to a previous placement of another wounddressing. Rather than indicating that the different location may beincorrect, the monitor controller 221 or the display controller 231 candetermine to adjust and accordingly adjust (for instance, spatiallyshift or change an orientation of) the sensor data gathered by the oneor more dressing sensors 212 to compensate for the placement at thedifferent location.

Although the positioning guidance process 300 may be described in thecontext of positioning of a wound dressing, the positioning guidanceprocess 300 can be further applied to assisting with placement of otherdevices on an individual, such as a person or animal. For instance, thepositioning guidance process 300 can be used for the placement of anactivity monitoring device, such as the activity monitoring devicesdescribed in International Patent Application Publication No.WO2019162272, titled “MONITORING OF BODY LOADING AND BODY POSITION FORTHE TREATMENT OF PRESSURE ULCERS OR OTHER INJURIES,” InternationalPatent Application Publication No. WO2019234011, titled “DEVICECOMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT IN USER ACTIVITY MONITORING SYSTEMS,” andInternational Patent Application Publication No. WO2019238927, titled“DEVICE HOUSING AND MOUNTING IN USER ACTIVITY MONITORING SYSTEMS,” thedisclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 4A illustrates a wound treatment system 400 prior to activation ofmovement instructions to assist with placement of a wound dressing 420,such as prior to activation of an overlay on the display user interface233 of the display device 230 of FIG. 2 . The wound treatment system 400can be shown from a perspective of a user like a healthcare provider.The wound treatment system 400 may be moreover being viewed by the userthrough a display, such as a head-mounted display.

The wound treatment system 400 can include a limb 410 of a patient thathas a wound 412 thereon. The wound treatment system 400 can furtherinclude a left hand 430 and a right hand 432 of the user that areholding the wound dressing 420, which can be an implementation of thewound dressing 210 of FIG. 2 . The wound dressing 420 can have on itsexternal surface an identification marker 422, which can be used todetect an orientation of the wound dressing 420.

FIG. 4B illustrates the wound treatment system 400 subsequent toactivation of the movement instructions, such as subsequent toactivation of the overlay on the display user interface 233. Thepositioning guidance process 300 at block 310, at block 320, at block330, and at block 340 may have been performed to arrive at the woundtreatment system 400 shown in FIG. 4B.

As can be seen in FIG. 4B, the user may now be presented with movementinstructions, including a downward arrow 440, a clockwise-orient arrow442, and a rightward-shift arrow 444. The downward arrow 440, theclockwise-orient arrow 442, and the rightward-shift arrow 444 canrespectively indicate to the user to move the wound dressing 420downward, turn the wound dressing 420 clockwise, and move the wounddressing to the right. A size, color, or one or more other features ofthe downward arrow 440, the clockwise-orient arrow 442, and therightward-shift arrow 444 can be used indicate a distance, degree, oramount which the user is instructed to move the wound dressing 420.Moreover, a placement outline 446 and a placement marker 448 can beshown to indicate to the user a desired location and orientation for thewound dressing 420. The user may achieve correct placement of the wounddressing 420 on the limb 410 by lining up the placement outline 446 withthe perimeter of the wound dressing 420 and aligning the identificationmarker 422 with the placement marker 448.

FIG. 4C illustrates the wound treatment system 400 if the wound dressing420 may be positioned on the limb 410 but not within permittedtolerances from a desired location and orientation. The positioningguidance process 300 at block 310, at block 320, at block 330, and atblock 340 may have been performed to arrive at the wound treatmentsystem 400 shown in FIG. 4C. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, an incorrectplacement 450 can be presented to the user to indicate that the usershould not leave the wound dressing 420 positioned at its currentlocation.

FIG. 4D illustrates the wound treatment system 400 if the wound dressing420 may be positioned on the limb 410 at a desired location but with anincorrect orientation. The positioning guidance process 300 at block310, at block 320, at block 330, and at block 340 may have beenperformed to arrive at the wound treatment system 400 shown in FIG. 4D.As can be seen in FIG. 4D, an incorrect orientation 460 can be presentedto the user indicating that the user should not leave the wound dressing420 positioned at its current orientation.

FIG. 4E illustrates the wound treatment system 400 if the wound dressing420 may be positioned on the limb 410 at a desired location andorientation. The positioning guidance process 300 at block 310, at block320, at block 350, and at block 360 may have been performed to arrive atthe wound treatment system 400 shown in FIG. 4E. As can be seen in FIG.4E, a correct placement and orientation 470 can be presented to the userindicating that the user should not leave the wound dressing 420positioned at its current orientation.

In certain implementations, the identification marker 422 may be usableto uniquely identify the wound dressing 420 from multiple differentwound dressings. The identification marker 422 may in suchimplementations be an optical, machine-readable representation of aunique identifier for the wound dressing 420 rather than an X. Forexample, the identification marker 422 can be used by the monitor device220 or the display device 230 to uniquely identify the wound dressing420 from a set of different wound dressings. The monitor device 220 orthe display device 230 can, in turn, use identification informationdetermined from the identification marker 422 to automatically customize[i] configurations or settings for communicating with or using the wounddressing 420, [ii] how sensor data from the wound dressing 420 iscollected, processed, or associated with a patient record in a database,or [iii] how information is presented to the user in augmented reality(for instance, the identification information can be used to assigndefault display settings for the wound dressing 420, such as colors,sizes, or which sensor data is assigned to which layers of a graphicalrepresentation generated for the wound dressing 420).

FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical representation generation andpresentation process 500. For convenience, the graphical representationgeneration and presentation process 500 is described as being performedby the monitor device 220 and the display device 230 and in the contextof the wound monitoring system 200, but may instead be implemented inother components or systems described herein, or by other components orsystems not shown. The graphical representation generation andpresentation process 500 can advantageously, in certain aspects, assista healthcare provider by providing sensor-derived information for awound in augmented reality in the context of a wound area so that thehealthcare provider can better understand a condition of the woundwithout removing the wound dressing. The provided sensor-derivedinformation can be easy to understand and follow because the providedsensor-derived information may be in the context of the wound area andmay even be anchored proximate to the wound where corresponding sensordata was detected.

At block 510, the graphical representation generation and presentationprocess 500 can receive sensor data from a sensor monitoring a woundcovered by a wound dressing. For example, the monitor device 220 canreceive the sensor data from the wound dressing 210 via the monitorcommunication interface 226. The sensor data may have been gathered bythe one or more dressing sensors 212, which may have been monitoring awound covered by the wound dressing 210 or its neighboring area. Thesensor data may include impedance or conductivity data, temperaturedata, optical data, pH data, pressure data, perfusion data,accelerometer data, gyroscopic data, or magnetometer data, among otherpossibilities, for the wound or its neighboring area.

At block 520, the graphical representation generation and presentationprocess 500 can generate a graphical representation from the sensordata. For example, the monitor device 220 can generate a graphicalrepresentation from the sensor data received from the wound dressing210. The graphical representation can be or include one or more visualrepresentations of variations in one or more characteristics at thewound or its neighboring area, such as how the one or morecharacteristics vary spatially over the wound or its neighboring area.The graphical representation can include a color-coding of values of thesensor data before or after processing by the monitor controller 221.The graphical representation can have a first side and a second sideopposite the first side, and the first side of the graphicalrepresentation can represent the sensor data detected on a first side ofthe wound dressing 210 and the second side of the graphicalrepresentation can represent the sensor data detected on a second sideof the wound dressing 210 opposite the first side of the wound dressing210.

The graphical representation can include multiple layers, such as one,two, three, four, or more layers, which may be generated for separatepresentation from one another (such as one layer spatially above anotherlayer). The multiple layers can each depict different information, whichmay be determined from different types sensors of the one or moredressing sensors 212. One of the multiple layers can represent one ofimpedance or conductivity variations, temperature variations, opticalvariations, pH variations, pressure variations, perfusion variations, ormotion variations, among other possibilities, at the wound or itsneighboring area, and another of the multiple layers can represent adifferent one of the variations at the wound or its neighboring area.

After generation of the graphical representation, the monitor device 220can transmit the graphical representation to the display device 230 viathe monitor communication interface 226.

At block 530, the graphical representation generation and presentationprocess 500 can present the graphical representation to a user viaaugmented reality. For example, the display device 230 can present thegraphical representation on a display of the display user interface 233,such as a head-mounted display, a screen of a mobile device, or via amorphological projection technique, so that the graphical representationmay be overlaid on an area proximate to the patient from a viewingperspective of a user, such as a healthcare provider. The graphicalrepresentation can be presented in real-time with receiving the sensordata at block 510, generating the graphical representation at block 520,or generating the senor data by the one or more dressing sensors 212.

The graphical representation can be presented with the graphicalrepresentation positioned above the wound (or at another location on orabove the patient) and appearing to be anchored above the wound (or atthe another location) from the viewing perspective so that the locationof the graphical representation appears to be fixed with respect to thepatient as the user moves around the patient. The display controller 231may, in some implementations, determine a marking location of a markingon or proximate to the wound or the patient (for instance, one or moreskin spots, one or more periwound features, a shape of the wound, ashape of the wound dressing, a position of the wound dressing, or one ormore markings on the wound dressing), and the display user interface 233can present the graphical representation at or at a set distance fromthe marking location from the viewing perspective.

Where the graphical representation may have the first side and thesecond side opposite the first side and the wound dressing 210 may havethe first side and the second side opposite the first side, thegraphical representation can be presented so that from the viewingperspective the first side of the graphical representation (which canrepresent the sensor data detected on the first side of the wounddressing 210 before or after processing by the monitor controller 221)may be positioned proximate to the first side of the wound dressing 210,such as overlaid on or above, and the second side of the graphicalrepresentation (which can represent the sensor data detected on thesecond side of the wound dressing 210 before or after processing by themonitor controller 221) may be positioned proximate to the second sideof the wound dressing 210, such as overlaid on or above.

Where the graphical representation may include multiple layers, thegraphical representation can be presented so that one or more of themultiple layers may be presented separately from one or more other ofthe multiple layers. For instance, one of the multiple layers can appearto be separated and positioned above another of the multiple layers fromthe viewing perspective.

Upon completion of the graphical representation generation andpresentation process 500, the display user interface 233 can present oneor more media interface elements that may permit the user to provide oneor more user inputs to control the generation or presentation of thegraphical representation. The display user interface 233 may, forexample, adjust the presentation of the graphical representation (suchas by presenting different types of the sensor data or different timingsfor the sensor data in the graphical representation or shift locationsat which different portions of the graphical representation may beshown) responsive to a user input to the display user interface 233.

Although the graphical representation generation and presentationprocess 500 may be described using the example of the monitor device 220and the display device 230 sharing processing responsibilities, thegraphical representation generation and presentation process 500 can beperformed entirely by the display device 230 in certain implementations.

The graphical representation generation and presentation process 500 maynot impact a performance of a negative pressure wound therapy using thewound dressing, such as the wound dressing 210. The wound dressing maycontinue to cover and seal the wound and maintain negative pressurearound the wound while the graphical representation generation andpresentation process 500 is performed.

FIG. 6A illustrates the wound treatment system 400 of FIGS. 4A-4E oncethe wound dressing 420 has been placed at the desired location andorientation. FIG. 6A can, for example, show the wound treatment system400 after the appearance of the wound treatment system 400 asillustrated in FIG. 4E.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the wound treatment system 400 can include anactivate overlays element 602, which may be selectable by the user. Theactivate overlays element 602 may be presented by the display userinterface 233 to the user in augmented reality as shown and detect aselection of the activate overlays element 602 by the user. Theselection can be detected, for example, using an optical sensor of theone or more display sensors 235 that detects a gesture by the usertoward the activate overlays element 602. The selection of the activateoverlays element 602 may initiate the presentation of the graphicalrepresentation as described at block 530 of the graphical representationgeneration and presentation process 500 and trigger the wound treatmentsystem 400 to appear as shown in FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6B illustrates the wound treatment system 400 when a graphicalrepresentation is presented in augmented reality by the display userinterface 233 that includes multiple layers, including a first layer610, a second layer 612, a third layer 614, and a fourth layer 616. Eachof the multiple layers can present different information, which may, forinstance, be determined from different types sensors of the one or moredressing sensors 212 monitoring the wound 412. In one example, the firstlayer 610 may depict impedance or conductivity variations under thewound dressing 420, the second layer 612 may depict temperaturevariations under the wound dressing 420, the third layer 614 may depictoptical variations under the wound dressing 420, and the fourth layer616 may depict pH variations under the wound dressing 420.

The presentation of information by the multiple layers at a point oneach of the multiple layers can, as shown in FIG. 6C, spatiallycorrespond to a characteristic detected under the wound dressing 420 atthe point which appears to be directly below the multiple layers fromthe viewing perspective of the user. As a result, features of the wound412, such as an outline of the wound 412, can be visible in each of themultiple layers such as shown in FIG. 6C.

A deactivate overlays element 604 and a more information element 620 canbe presented in the wound treatment system 400 as illustrated in FIG.6B. The deactivate overlays element 604 and the more information element620 can be presented in augmented reality by the display user interface233, and the display user interface 233 can detect a selection of thedeactivate overlays element 604 or the more information element 620 bythe user, such as using an optical sensor of the one or more displaysensors 235 that detects a gesture by the user toward the deactivateoverlays element 604 or the more information element 620. The selectionof the deactivate overlays element 604 deactivate the presentation ofthe graphical representation and trigger the wound treatment system 400to appear as shown in FIG. 6A. The selection of the more informationelement 620 can may initiate the presentation of one or more mediainterface elements and trigger the wound treatment system 400 to appearas shown in FIG. 6D.

FIG. 6D illustrates the wound treatment system 400 when one or moremedia interface elements are presented in augmented reality by thedisplay user interface 233. The one or more media interface elements caninclude a play/pause element 630, a fast forward element 632, a jumpforward element 634, a jump reverse element 636, a fast reverse element638, a first layer switch element 640, a second layer switch element642, and a third layer switch element 624. The display user interface233 can detect a selection of one of the one or more media interfaceelements or the multiple layers, such as using an optical sensor of theone or more display sensors 235 that detects a gesture by the usertoward the one of the one or more media interface elements or themultiple layers.

The play/pause element 630, the fast forward element 632, the jumpforward element 634, the jump reverse element 636, and the fast reverseelement 638 can be selected by the user to control presentation ofinformation by one or more of the multiple layers. The selection of theplay/pause element 630 can cause one or more of the multiple layers toeither play or pause a playback of information in the one or more of themultiple layers. The selection of the fast forward element 632 can causeone or more of the multiple layers to start a high speed playback (forexample, ×1.5, ×2, ×3, ×5, ×10, ×25, or ×50 speed) of information in theone or more of the multiple layers. The selection of the jump forwardelement 634 can cause one or more of the multiple layers to skip a setperiod of time forward (for example, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hours) in playback of informationin the one or more of the multiple layers. The selection of the jumpreverse element 636 can cause one or more of the multiple layers to skipa set period of time backward (for example, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or 1 hours) in playback ofinformation in the one or more of the multiple layers. The selection ofthe fast reverse element 638 can cause one or more of the multiplelayers to start a high speed playback (for example, ×1.5, ×2, ×3, ×5,×10, ×25, or ×50 speed) in reverse of information in the one or more ofthe multiple layers.

The play/pause element 630, the fast forward element 632, the jumpforward element 634, the jump reverse element 636, and the fast reverseelement 638 can operate on one or more of the multiple layers that mayhave been selected by the user prior to the selection of the play/pauseelement 630, the fast forward element 632, the jump forward element 634,the jump reverse element 636, or the fast reverse element 638. Theplay/pause element 630, the fast forward element 632, the jump forwardelement 634, the jump reverse element 636, and the fast reverse element638 can thus assist the user with efficiently reviewing andunderstanding characteristics of the wound 412 and its neighboring areaover time (such as over a period of seconds, minutes, hours, or days).

As shown in FIG. 6D, timestamps can be presented in augmented realityalongside the multiple layers. The first layer 610 can be presentedalongside a timestamp of “2020 JAN 18 8:30 AM”, which may indicate theinformation presented by the first layer 610 can correspond to thesensor data collected at the wound dressing 420 at Jan. 18, 2020, at8:30 AM. The second layer 612 can be presented alongside a timestamp of“2020 JAN 18 8:30 AM”, which may indicate the information presented bythe second layer 612 can correspond to the sensor data collected at thewound dressing 420 at Jan. 18, 2020, at 8:30 AM. The first layer 610 andthe second layer 612 may present sensor data collected at the wounddressing 420 at a common time. The third layer 614 can be presentedalongside a timestamp of “2020 JAN 18 8:00 AM”, which may indicate theinformation presented by the third layer 614 can correspond to thesensor data collected at the wound dressing 420 at Jan. 18, 2020, at8:00 AM. The fourth layer 616 can be presented alongside a timestamp of“2020 JAN 18 7:00 AM”, which may indicate the information presented bythe fourth layer 616 can correspond to the sensor data collected at thewound dressing 420 at Jan. 18, 2020, at 7:00 AM. The third layer 614 andthe fourth layer 616 may present sensor data collected at the wounddressing 420 at different times, as well as collected at different timesfrom the common time for the first layer 610 and the second layer 612.

The first layer switch element 640, the second layer switch element 642,and the third layer switch element 624 can be selected by the user toswitch positions of one or more of the multiple layers. The selection ofthe first layer switch element 640 can cause the first layer 610 and thesecond layer 612 to switch positions from the viewing perspective of theuser. The selection of the second layer switch element 642 can cause thesecond layer 612 and the third layer 614 to switch positions from theviewing perspective of the user. The selection of the third layer switchelement 644 can cause third layer 614 and the fourth layer 616 to switchpositions from the viewing perspective of the user.

A less information element 650 can be presented in the wound treatmentsystem 400 as illustrated in FIG. 6D. The more information element 650can be presented in augmented reality by the display user interface 233,and the display user interface 233 can detect a selection of the lessinformation element 650 by the user, such as using an optical sensor ofthe one or more display sensors 235 that detects a gesture by the usertoward the less information element 650. The selection of the lessinformation element 650 can may remove the one or more media interfaceelements from presentation and trigger the wound treatment system 400 toappear as shown in FIG. 6B.

Computer System Components

FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system 700 usable to construct one or moreof the devices (for instance, the monitor device 220 or the displaydevice 230), systems, servers, or the like described or shown herein.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the computer system 700 can include (i) aprocessor(s) (CPUs) 710, (ii) an input/output device(s) 720 configuredto allow users to input and output information and interact with thecomputer system 700 as well as transfer and receive data or capture datawith one or more sensors like an image sensor, (iii) a read only memorydevice(s) (ROMs) 730 or equivalents to provide nonvolatile storage ofdata or programs, (iv) a display(s) 750 such as a computer monitor orother display device, (v) a network connection(s) 740 and a networkinterface(s) 742 configured to allow the computer system 700 to connectto other systems, servers, or portable devices, as well as a memoryspace(s) 760 and a database(s) 790. The database(s) 790 may be furtherdivided or distributed as sub-database(s) 790A-790N, with thesub-database(s) storing feature or function specific informationassociated with a particular feature or function. The various componentsshown in FIG. 7 may be incorporated in a computer(s) 770. It is notedthat the various components shown in FIG. 7 , including the database(s)790, are typically included as part of the computer(s) 770, however,they may be external to the computer(s) 770 in some aspects. Forexample, the database(s) 790 may be external to the computer(s) 770 andmay be part of a separate database computer system or networked databasesystem. In some instances, the computer system 700 may be a computingdevice like a desktop computer, mobile phone, or a server.

The memory space(s) 760 may include DRAM, SRAM, FLASH, hard disk drives,or other memory storage devices, such as a media drive(s) 780,configured to store an operating system(s) 762, an applicationprogram(s) 764, and data 768, and the memory space(s) 760 may be sharedwith, distributed with or overlap with the memory storage capacity ofthe database(s) 790. In some aspects, the memory space(s) 760 mayinclude the database(s) 790 or in some aspects the database(s) 790 mayinclude the data 768 as shown in the memory space(s) 760. The datastored in the memory space(s) 760 or the database(s) 790 may includeinformation, such as sensor data or data processing routines, or othertypes of data described herein.

Other Variations and Terminology

While certain approaches described herein utilize augmented reality,virtual reality can be used additionally or alternatively. Whileplacement of a wound dressing is described as one application of theapproaches described herein, the approaches can be applicable fordifferent medical or non-medical uses. For example, the approachesdescribed herein can be applicable for placing a measurement device, awearable device, or the like.

Many other variations than those described herein will be apparent fromthis disclosure. For example, depending on the embodiment, certain acts,events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein can beperformed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left outaltogether (e.g., not all described acts or events are necessary for thepractice of the algorithms). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts orevents can be performed concurrently, e.g., through multi-threadedprocessing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processorcores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. Inaddition, different tasks or processes can be performed by differentmachines or computing systems that can function together.

One or more user inputs described in this disclosure may be receivedusing one or more different mechanisms. For example, user interfacecontrols may be selected by a user using one or more input options, suchas a mouse, touch screen input, or keyboard input, among other userinterface input options. The user interface controls selected by theuser can include one or more of buttons, dropdown boxes, select boxes,text boxes, check boxes, slider controls, or other user interfacecontrols.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and algorithm stepsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can beimplemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinationsof both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, and stepshave been described above generally in terms of their functionality.Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or softwaredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. The described functionality can be implemented invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented orperformed by a machine, a microprocessor, a state machine, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A hardware processor can include electrical circuitryor digital logic circuitry configured to process computer-executableinstructions. In another aspect, a processor includes an FPGA or otherprogrammable device that performs logic operations without processingcomputer-executable instructions. A processor can also be implemented asa combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and amicroprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. A computing environment can include any type of computersystem, including, but not limited to, a computer system based on amicroprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, aportable computing device, a device controller, or a computationalengine within an appliance, to name a few.

The steps of a method, process, or algorithm described in connectionwith the embodiments disclosed herein can be embodied directly inhardware, in a software module stored in one or more memory devices andexecuted by one or more processors, or in a combination of the two. Asoftware module can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium, media, or physical computer storage known in the art. An examplestorage medium can be coupled to the processor such that the processorcan read information from, and write information to, the storage medium.In the alternative, the storage medium can be integral to the processor.The storage medium can be volatile or nonvolatile. The processor and thestorage medium can reside in an ASIC.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,”“may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, orotherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intendedto convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do notinclude, certain features, elements or states. Thus, such conditionallanguage is not generally intended to imply that features, elements orstates are in any way required for one or more aspects or that one ormore aspects necessarily include logic for deciding, with or withoutauthor input or prompting, whether these features, elements or statesare included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. Theterms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymousand are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not excludeadditional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, theterm “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusivesense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements,the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.Further, the term “each,” as used herein, in addition to having itsordinary meaning, can mean any subset of a set of elements to which theterm “each” is applied.

Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,”unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with thecontext as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may beeither X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generallyintended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of atleast one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,”“about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent avalue, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, orcharacteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves adesired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”,“generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is withinless than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, withinless than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. Asanother example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel”and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristicthat departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees,10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features as applied to various embodiments, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in theform and details of the devices or algorithms illustrated can be madewithout departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As will berecognized, certain embodiments described herein can be embodied withina form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forthherein, as some features can be used or practiced separately fromothers.

1. A method of visualizing sensor data from a sensor monitoring a wound,the method comprising: receiving senor data generated by one or moresensors monitoring a wound of a patient, the wound being covered with awound dressing; generating a graphical representation from the sensordata; and presenting the graphical representation to a user viaaugmented reality so that the graphical representation is overlaid on anarea proximate to the patient from a viewing perspective of the user. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of amarking on or proximate to the wound dressing, wherein said presentingcomprises presenting the graphical representation so that the graphicalrepresentation is positioned at a set distance from the location fromthe viewing perspective of the user.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The method ofclaim 1 , wherein said presenting comprises presenting the graphicalrepresentation so that the graphical representation is positioned abovethe wound dressing from the viewing perspective of the user even as theuser moves around the patient.
 5. The method of claim 1 , wherein thegraphical representation comprises a color-coding of values of thesensor data.
 6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphicalrepresentation comprises a plurality of layers including a first layerrepresenting first variations at the wound detected with a first type ofsensor and a second layer representing second variations at the wounddetected with a second type of sensor different from the first type ofsensor, and said presenting comprises presenting the graphicalrepresentation so that the first layer and the second layer areseparately displayed and overlaid on the area from the viewingperspective of the user.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the firstlayer is positioned above the second layer from the viewing perspectiveof the user.
 8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first variationscomprise temperature variations, and the second variations compriseconductivity variations.
 9. The method of claim 1 , wherein thegraphical representation comprises a first side and a second sideopposite the first side, and the first side represents first sensor datadetected on one side of the wound dressing and the second siderepresents second sensor data detected on another side of the wounddressing opposite the one side of the wound dressing, wherein saidpresenting comprises presenting the graphical representation so that,from the viewing perspective of the user, the first side is positionedabove the one side of the wound dressing and the second side ispositioned above the another side of the wound dressing.
 10. The methodof claim 1 , wherein said receiving is performed in real-time with saidpresenting.
 11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said presentingcomprises presenting the graphical representation on a head-mounteddisplay.
 12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating thesensor data by the one or more sensors, wherein said generating thesensor data is performed in real-time with said presenting, and the oneor more sensors are integrated in the wound dressing.
 13. (canceled) 14.The method of claim 1 , further comprising: presenting a media interfaceelement to the user; and adjusting the graphical representationresponsive to a selection of the media interface element by the user.15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating a negativepressure source fluidically connected to the wound dressing to providenegative pressure and deliver a negative pressure wound therapy to thewound.
 16. An apparatus for visualizing sensor data from a sensormonitoring a wound, the apparatus comprising: an input configured toreceive senor data generated by one or more sensors configured tomonitor a wound of a patient, the wound being covered with a wounddressing; and a controller configured to: generate a graphicalrepresentation from the sensor data, and output the graphicalrepresentation for presentation to a user via augmented reality so thatthe graphical representation is overlaid on an area proximate to thepatient from a viewing perspective of the user.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the controller is configured to determine a locationof a marking on or proximate to the wound dressing, and the controlleris configured to output the graphical representation for presentation sothat the graphical representation is positioned on a display at a setdistance from the location from the viewing perspective of the user. 18.The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured tooutput the graphical representation for presentation so that thegraphical representation is positioned on a display above the wounddressing from the viewing perspective of the user.
 19. (canceled) 20.(canceled)
 21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the graphicalrepresentation comprises a plurality of layers including a first layerrepresenting first variations at the wound detected with a first type ofsensor and a second layer representing second variations at the wounddetected with a second type of sensor different from the first type ofsensor, and said presenting comprises presenting the graphicalrepresentation so that the first layer and the second layer areseparately displayed and overlaid on the area from the viewingperspective of the user.
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled)
 24. The apparatusof claim 16 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a firstside and a second side opposite the first side, and the first siderepresents first sensor data detected on one side of the wound dressingand the second side represents second sensor data detected on anotherside of the wound dressing opposite the one side of the wound dressing,wherein the controller is configured to output the graphicalrepresentation for presentation so that, from the viewing perspective ofthe user, the first side is positioned above the one side of the wounddressing and the second side is positioned above the another side of thewound dressing.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The apparatus of claim 16 , furthercomprising: a head-mounted display configured to present the graphicalrepresentation; the one or more sensors, the one or more sensors beingconfigured to generate the sensor data in real-time with the controlleroutputting the graphical representation for presentation; and the wounddressing, the one or more sensors being integrated in the wounddressing.
 27. (canceled)
 28. (canceled)
 29. The apparatus of claim 16 ,wherein the controller is configured to: output a media interfaceelement for presentation to the user; and adjust the graphicalrepresentation responsive to a selection of the media interface elementby the user.
 30. (canceled)
 31. (canceled)
 32. (canceled)